Dispensing and packaging device for fluids



Nov., 9, 1943., M. c. SCHWAB DISPENSING AND PACKAGING DEVICE FOR FLUIDS y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Marh 19, 1941 is the prvision pf a constiueuonifwhlcnt Patented Nov. 9, 1943 y This device relates to-Jliquididispensmg ratus `and more'V particularly toldviceshon disipens-ing sterile liquids for?s'ubis'tltimeous-lofiil travenous injections orlikeiusessl-i-Iiiether continuous Withdrawal eff liquids'fiomlcoi1ta)iners generally, vitis: necessarytllteir" or other 'ges or fluid be permitted `Vt() enter ltlie bteine'rfto ile'- place the liquid Withdrawn', ndin'deviees to be employed for theipuI-fposes" heeirlfl'spcically pointedfout., it is particularly importaizlt vtheft-fthe airentering the container upen-fwithdrawal-#f the 'liquid be lnl-teredforfwasned iin :order-l to prt vent contamination of ythe sterile liquids vwitlfiiflfi `'Tlie-practice'of injecting liquids intravenousliy,` subcutaneously or intramuscularly intotissueL-is- Well knowntoV medical science, -and it-is `also-Well known that the introduction of esente-,medicinal liquid for this purpose Ainafybe dahgerou'slto lthe patient, owing to theipossibility offoreignniat ter in thefform ef dusmspores-and-other impuri ties becoming entrained in the liquid' to beinjected from the `air with `vsihchtlielliquitlft'solnesin Contact 'Within'4 the container, thusiendelin the liquid'fsepticv and u'nt for' injectif'iV purs poses. f V '7, A" l" A primary objectV ofthe inver; infist-p'vide improved apparatus foriwashig thef'incom'ing air or gas lorior'to itsV entryintotheliquid f c` tainer, and an important 'festur coming airmayvor may'notbuhblefthroilg-h ef liquid toy be'dispensed'asin devicesknwn tothe art. A further objectof the invention is top'rvideY liquid dispensingr apparatus-'in whic'h aportion of the liquid to` bejdispensedservesasthe medium for'washing incomingaii. @Further 'oldi` jects are to provide a devicef this ty-p'e of sim-'ple construction '21nd Which lfnaybi eadily-ster'lized and assembled. j *i j l A A further particularly importentobiectloffthe invention is the provisiono'f `a, imitit'ryA packsjgle-v which includes the previously sterilized dis'iensf ing apparatus. It will be seen that the Vdi'spensixig apparatus VincludingI afdispen'sing 'tube 'may be delivered in a sealed packageto hospitals-dromer users aildf-the device rendered redy -fo'xl-use by removing the housing shell, ndlthe seal'tverf suringat al1 times an adequatesupply offwashing fluid-. 1

- It will be under'stoodI that the 'invention 'may be employed in connection-with other liquid' dis pensingldeviceszother ,than in theield 0f llkiiility particularly specied, and, itftherefoxe, zllds ,a Wide industrial iield of utility wherever itis d esiredftoidispensei a 'sterile orzl1noolitlaunillat.ed`

liquid. 'j t l f :The invention will bezreadily derstbodffrom the-following description :in oniunctionfwith the accompanyinsdrawings whereincertain preferrea emitodixnerns ref` the invention; are illus'- tlateii', in Villlhffv r' i Fig. la-isla rbrokemgvertical, section l view of a 1 preferred ,embodiment of theinventions Fig.. 2,: airagmentam Avertical-,sectiurlal View of anmbodimentequite similarto thattShOWn in Figur; 1 l1 Figff, a sectionalview tak 3er-tof FigQl; t 1

\ Eig. 4, v a broken, vertical sectienaliview of arrother embodimentof theincntmnf 'L Eigene broken, verticalisectional View further ndifCtna 'j I' il 1 ,Referring generally; to the drawings, it will seeiiithatin ail of the iguressthe improved ccntainer and dispcnsinsdevice' are shownthe along; the line inverted position, and it is in this inverted posigf inventiomare shownthe efenence character IIJ indicates.Jiscontainerw'preferably made* of glass prvided'i'witlif a. neck :M having' extenal `screw threads I2. The combinedckaginguriit;liquid dispensmgniens'. andairjwashing means are r'etainedainpositionmiV dollari I 'removaibly dispensing Vapparatus or tube Which-are prefr erably sterilized at a. central distributing point` when the sterileliquid is` placed iii-the container.

Aieature of 'one embodiment ofthe invention is the provision ofimproved: means v for .drawing liquid into the airw'ashingl devicsgtlierebvini' openinginto, the: container and `adapted to: sup-v port tnetlorwer end-'of a tubell-proridedwith an expanded 'port-ionu II adaptedtc: serve, -asy al; charge ingtzehamberwhich may `ifbe A:omitted -ifi desired,

air inlet tube 26.

the member I6 and is similar thereto and is pro-; vided with a recessed portion 23 correspondingA to the portion I8 and formingftherewith va-s'ingle air washing chamber 24. The lower end of Vth member I'I is provided with a boss` 2 havinga constricted bore adapted to.fri ctionally`retainy therein the lower end of anV 'airfinlettube' 261' preferably in the form of a goose neck-disposed within the air washing chamber '24 and having an' opening 21 therein."V The member .I'I is pro.- Vided with a second bore frictionally retaining the-lower p'ortionio'f the liquiddispensing tube 22,`the dispensing tube lhaving abeadedlend 28 below the member I'I upon whichis. retained the end of aexibledispen'sing tube 29Vprovided with (313,1311330.' .-1. 4'As shown in Figures 1 and 2, theV invention may be employed in the form of a unitary package, particularly whenthe container is toibe usedfor dispensing fluids usedin 'intravenous 0r subcutaneous injections such-as physiological salt solutions, glucose solutions, blood for transfusion purposes, and other fluids in the field of medicine, and for these uses and other related-uses, the container mayl befemployedfas alpackage .for such fluids Whichare retained in .sterilecondition andreadyfor -use." shown in the draw-v ings, the rubber tube 29 fitted over the beaded end 28 of the liquid dispensing tube 22 vadapted to carry the sterile solution to itsl point of discharge, --is coiled below the 'neck of 'the` container. A shell 31|- -offsheet material houses the coiled tubing-fand is provided ,withI an ioii'set annular flange 32 adapted to friction'ally. engage the outer surface ofwtheplugVA member I'3iand retainthe shell 3Ilandthe tubing in theA position shown intheldrawingsauntil:the rdevice is to be uged Y t, ci.; L-f, ,Y g, i

The construction` shown 'in Fig; 2 is.y similar; to that l ofnFig. 1, the principalv differences being that a shorter'air inlet tube `33I.is employedzor eliminated entirely,the inner endv 34. of the-tube opening at an intermediate point-within the container, thus v.permitting the .previouslywashed incoming air to bubble through the sterile liquid.

The collarV member 'I3 is provided vwith an. an-v nular slot adapted toreceive andvfrictionally retain the flanged extensions L35, offsettinwardly, of the tube housing3l. 1 L 1 The container I is preferablyy lledwith the desired sterile liquidv at a. suitable;central distributing `point before the plug members andcollar areA secured to the neck ofthe container. .If desired; the container may be iilled,: afterletheaair washing and plug members are inserted, by-forcing' the liquidA through the tube 22, the air within the' container being displacedthrough the air inlet I9, the chamber I8, and the air inlet 26. The air washingassembly,col1arl3, and the liquid dispensing'members 22 and 29 are sterilized beforeand after the members are.` assembled the package form shown vinlligs. 11i and 2; and before the cover 3Iflis applied, 'so that thedevice, is ready foriuse upon-removal of .the-covershell.

3I and the seal 36 placed over the end of the'v The device is readily assembled byinserting the air inlet tubes I9 and 26 and the liquid dispensing tube 22 in their respective bores in the plug members I6 and I1, mounting the flanges I4 and f I5 of the plug members in the shoulder portion of the collar I3, securing the collar to the neck of the container, and thenheatingl-the liquid and the members jofvk the dispensing and washing assembly to a'sterilizing temperature. The clamp 30 may then be closed, While the container and 4its contents are hot, to form an area of reduced pressurea't'thetop of the container above the liquid contents thereof when the container returns. toznormal room temperature.l The cover .fshellSI' 'is'then tted over the edge portion of thercollar.:I'3andthe device is ready for shipment inthe form of a unitary package.

In itsupright position, the container is prefervablyj*filled-With the sterile liquid to a point `just below.: the ,neckpfthe bott1eand in this position it Awill be apparent` thatthe liquid will enter the tube I9A` throughthe oriice 2l and will approxif matelLseek-,its:leveLin the tube which will vbe well withinthe. charging-chamber 20. When the container-:isginverted prorfto dispensing, liquid from theg charging hamberfZIl and the tube 2| will enter-the airl Washing chamber 23 to ap proxinriately4 the levelindicated in Figure Y1v and this, .liquid portionserves as the filtering medium fr the incoming air. The chamber 23 is of such diameter and lengthuasto prevent any possibility of fluid siphoning out through theair inlet tube 26 ,prior to the 120W of liquid through thedispensing duct'zze `i .Y

, Whvenfthefvlamp. 30 is freleased'cn the dispensiuetube 29,:.a vconstant W 0f liquid therethrough is assuredpythe admissionof air through the through the goose:neck. inlet tube 26, bubbles'upthoroughly ,cleansed ofany dust, lint, spores or` other .foreign matter passingwith considerable ebuilitionzthrougn theuwashing liquid in me Chamber .34s i'rvThe Previsin c' f .t 'the har'girze chamber 2li,` which mayserve as an expansion chamber, eiectually removes any` possibility of washingv-A`1iquidi-being returnedA to the` container byv ebullition witrliin the Washing chamber 24.v

shown in y Figs. y 1, l2 o and 3 and differs I therefrom inthetouly suigeblug membr ll-1S employed- Themeeber ,4141s provided with eue `'femgesu4 end ,fdependmefanges 43- ,uw side; flanges u" i are adapted to rest in the'shoulder ofthe collar I,3,=threaded vupon the neck of the container I I.

ALs-hellldpreferably molded of aV plastic 'niarterial, isefrietienallv fitted; on the', uter .surface of the depending ,-fanger, 4?, and puwdes au air washing oriaxrnluer yIliff-i211@ uppeffportion V0f the. air'washine ,chamber 45 y.opens Yinto..the,zlewerepd .openair `inlet .tube 4,6 mounted ina-Genujehy;

locatedgboreingthe plus member 4l and; preferably extends adjacentgto thel ,-bottonrof the con.y tainer IIlin itsupright position,although, if desired'pthe. airinlet tube may terminate atanl intermediate i, point 4in *the j container,A The air e inletftubev 4'Ijisipreferab1y in the form f of a gooseneck'within Ythe airiwashing chamber,` and it, toe.;` gethenw-iththe liquid dispensingtube 22 and the;

cover shell 3|, are similarin consiariictiin`A tothe members described in Fig. 1. The liquid tubing adapted to convey the solution toits pointof dis-V charge,- is not shown, but itis to, be understood ner setforth in, connection vwithwtheembod- TheA construction shown 'in VFigureI 5 is, somewhat similar to theembodiments` previously Adescribed in that vthe device may be included in the form of a package with the liquidto be dispensed, and theV dispensing tube (not: shown); may, be included within the cover `shell3|.` `'Ihelcollar member `I3 and thefplug member 4|, are similar in construction to the members shown in the em-` bodiments previously described, although uit g is to be understood that a plurality of plug mem. bers may be employed, as shown in-Fig.11.f In like manner, the liquid dispensingv tube 22is.fric tionally retained within a bo'reof'ther plug member il Vand is provided withlartemporaryseal 48 over its lowerl end. I Likewise;` thewair inlet tube therein and Vupon :return of ithe'memberf55 to its` normal spherical position, ja charge of washing fiuidawill 4,bedrawn thereinfrom the air inlet tube 5| and the charge chambe'rf53. A primary purpose of this construction is .the fact that an adequate supply of washing fluid will be `present in' the` air. washing chamber 55.

, throughfthe passage 63 andbubbles upwardly through the'washing liquid in rthechamber 55 where it;receives a thorough washing before entering ltheairinlet tubei 5| and emerging intothe top of `theicontainerlIl, thus permitting an even flow ofytheliquid .withinv the container, Ill. If desired, the charging chamber E53-may be omitted. It-,is toy be noted ,that in all'of the embodiments there is; no possibility oifthe washing iiuid becoming commingled with thesterile liquid to 5l is mounted within the;.conta`iner and lhasan v opening 52 preferably adjacent the top` of the container in its inverted position, as shown in the drawings, and is provided at an intermediate portion with a charging chamber 53. The lower end 54 of the air inlet tube 5| preferably extends slightly below the plug member 4| in the inverted position of the container. vThe air washing chamber 55 of this embodiment is in the form of a collapsible ball 56, preferably formed of rubber, and is provided at its upper end with an annulus 5l adapted to frictionally engage the lower end 54 of the air inlet tube. The lower end of the rubber sphere is provided with a boss 58 and shoulder members 55. A primary air inlet tube 5l) of restricted diameter extends through a bore in the boss 58 and is positioned within a tubular member 6| supported within'the sphere 56 by the shoulder members 59. Anoverilow chamber 52 is formed between the tubular members 6| and 55, and it is `to be noted that the tubular member 6| is provided with a passage 53 between the overflow chamber 62 and the air washing chamber 55. The members and 6|) may be formed of glass, thin metal or plastics.

In operation, the container I0 is preferably are then sterilized and mounted upon and Within the container, as shown in Fig. 5. In the` normally upright position of the container prior to use, a portion of the liquid will extend into the air inlet tube 5| to an intermediate point within the chamber 53. `Upon inversion of the container and removal of the cover shell 3| and the temporary seals i8 over the ends of the liquid dispensing tube 22 and the primary air inlet 65, a rubber tubing, equipped with a flow control and means for injection or other use, is tted over the beaded end 23 of the liquid dispensing tube. The expanded spherical member 56 is then collapsed by the ngers .of the operator to force out the air normally contained be ;dispensed,fas in some of the devices known torthe yart:` ,Likewiselinah of the embodiments itl will be understood thatthe size of the iluid outlet `is relatedto thesize'` of-the air inlet, so

y that the rate offlow of liquid from the dispensing tubes will maintain `aloalanced condition.` l i While the novelty ofV the-,construction has been emphasized in the eld of medicine, it will be understood that my improved device is not, lim-` atmosphere until the device is ready for use inf the inverted position, since there is no outer core to be removed or cap to be added, thereby eliminating the possibility of contamination of the `liquid to be dispensed prior to the dispensing of the` liquiddue to rinrush of unwashed `air particularly when a reduced pressure prevails within the container.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a container having an open neck and operable upon inversion, a plug member removably mounted in the neck of said container and having an annular flange, a collar member removably secured to the neckof said container and adapted to engage said flange to retain the plug member within the container, an air washing chamber formed adjacent said plug e member, an inlet to convey air to said chamber during the dispensing operation, a tube conveying air from said chamber to the interior of said container, said tube being provided with an expanded portion serving as a charging chamber the container, an air Washing chamber directly below said plug, an inlet conveying air to said on the upper-plug-conVeying. Washed air into saidcontainer, land a liquid outlet extending through said plug members and'spaced 'from said air washing chamber.

4. In combination' with a containeroperable upon inversionandhaving anfopen neck, a plug member within theneck of rthe container, a cor,-` responding member adjoinng said plug member, said members -being retainedi'nadjoining' position by a member vremovablymounted'on the neck of thecontainer, zcorresponding bores in said plug members adapted to form` an' air'washing chamber, an air inlet mounted: inloneof said members and forming a goose neck' Within Y Said air Washing chamber having an opening below the normal liquidlevelwithin said chamber, a tube extending through-the other member `into the interiorof said container, said tube having an expanded-portionadapted to supply Washing liquid to ksaid air washing chamber, said liquid forming aportion of the' liquid to be dispensed, and a liquidoutlet extending: through said plug members and spacedf-` from" said air washing chamber;

5; 2in-combination with va container lhaving an y v open neck',l aplug 4disp'osedin-the neck ofY saidcontainer, a liquid'outlet extending through said p1ug,`a4 tube mounted in tsaid 'plug extending therethrough andl into said -container further than said liquid outlet, a hollow member depend-r ing -from said plugbelow said tube and forming an-air Washing chamber, and an air inlet: tube extending-through the bottomof` said. hollow member Vand havinga'n openingwithin said air washingchamberlbelow the normalrliquid'level 6. In combination withacontainer-having an openneck and yoperable I upon inversion, :ai plug member having a, flange resting :ionlthe -end vof the container'neokra collar memberremovably mountedOnftheneCk-Ofthe container adapted I20 to retain said flange on the end of the container,

afliquid outlet-extending through said plug, van Y airV inlet: tube mounted on saidplug extending therethrough and into thev interior of said con tainer, ai hollow member depending from said plug below said air inlet -tube and forming an air Washing chamber, Ya/tube extending` through said hollow lmember Aand linto said chamber and discharging below the normal liquid level in saidchamber,l and a closuresecured toy said collar' andhousing said` hollow member and second air inlettube to formafpresterilized package includ# ing .said containenf'itsliquidl content, and the dispensing` and air Washing assembly. 

